History Series / TheManyLovesOfDobieGillis

* BreakingTheFourthWall: Most episodes begin with Dobie briefly addressing the audience with a little background exposition of the plot to follow. (Occasionally, these monologues would also appear mid-show as transitional links.) The scenes invariably had Dobie in front of the famous Rodin sculpture "The Thinker." (The earliest episode openings would start with Dobie emulating The Thinker's pose.) One clever variation had Dobie in traction, unable to speak, while his nurse read his narration from his written notes!

* GirlOfTheWeek: Among the actresses that played Dobie's love interests were such then-unknowns as Creator/MarloThomas, Sally Kellerman, Creator/EllenBurstyn (then billed as Ellen [=McRae=]), Barbara Babcock, Sherry Jackson, Diana Millay, Barbara Bain, and Creator/YvonneCraig.

* NewSeasonNewTitle: The show's title was changed to just ''Dobie Gillis'' in season 2, and then to ''[[InCaseYouForgotWhoWroteIt Max Shulman's]] Dobie Gillis'' in season 4.

* DarkerAndEdgier: The first season. Dobie was more of a scheming lazy bum. Maynard was more of a counterculture figure. Thalia was more of an unrepentant GoldDigger compared to Dobie's later love interests. Dobie's relationship with his father Herbert was much more antagonistic, where he often threatened to kill Dobie (in a comedic manner) which made sponsors uneasy. This was toned down by Season 2.

[[quoteright:285:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/dobie_gillis.jpeg]]
[[caption-width-right:285:''Dobie wants a little cutie,\\

''The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis'' was a {{Sitcom}} that aired from 1959 to 1963 on Creator/{{CBS}}. It was based on a collection of short stories written in the early '50s by humorist Max Shulman (which had previously inspired the 1953 MGM musical ''The Affairs of Dobie Gillis'', starring Bobby Van as Dobie and Creator/DebbieReynolds as his love interest).

Dobie Gillis (Dwayne Hickman) was an OrdinaryHighSchoolStudent who wanted simple things in life; money, respect, and the love of beautiful women. His best friend was an oddball beatnik named Maynard G. Krebs (a pre-Series/GilligansIsland Bob Denver) who sported a goatee and was allergic to work. Dobie perennially found himself pursuing beautiful women who were rarely interested in him, while his dogged childhood friend Zelda Gilroy (Sheila James) insisted she was destined to be his ultimate match.

It broke a lot of new ground for TV, being one of the first shows to have [[BreakingTheFourthWall the characters comment directly to the audience]], as well as one of TV's first "counter-cultural" characters (Maynard). It was also much more slyly scripted than a lot of the more dated shows of the era, and was noted for rapid-fire dialogue exchanges (one of the most dialogue-heavy sitcoms of the era).

[[quoteright:222:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/aost5c_3884.jpg]]
[[caption-width-right:222: Dobie wants a little cutie, Dobie wants a little beauty...]]

''The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis'' aired from 1959 to 1963 on Creator/{{CBS}}. Dobie Gillis (Dwayne Hickman) was an OrdinaryHighSchoolStudent who wanted simple things in life; money, respect, and the love of beautiful women. His best friend was an oddball beatnik named Maynard G. Krebs (a pre-Series/GilligansIsland Bob Denver) who sported a goatee and was allergic to work. Dobie perennially found himself pursuing beautiful women who were rarely interested in him, while his dogged childhood friend Zelda Gilroy (Sheila James) insisted she was destined to be his ultimate match.

The series was adapted from a collection of short stories written in the early '50s by humorist Max Shulman (which had previously inspired the 1953 MGM musical ''The Affairs of Dobie Gillis'', starring Bobby Van as Dobie and Creator/DebbieReynolds as his love interest).

* MagicRealism: While the show is largely grounded in reality, some episodes can have surreal moments (such as "The Chicken From outer Space").

** A female example in Zelda Gilroy. She believes she and Dobie are meant to be together. Dobie though wants a much prettier girl. A RunningGag through the entire series deals with Dobie's attempts to get rid of Zelda.

* NeverSayThatAgain: Mere mention of the word "work" in the presence of employment-averse Maynard always triggered a spasmodic, panicked interjection of "WORK?!"

** Early in Season 1 there was Jerome Krebs, cousin of Maynard G. Krebs. Bob Denver had been drafted into the army and the producers had to write his character Maynard out of the show and replace him with the similar Jerome, played by Michael J. Pollard. Denver failed his physical and was able to return having missed only three episodes. The Jerome Krebs character only appeared in two episodes and was quickly dropped.

** Early in Season 1 there was Jerome Krebs, cousin of Maynard G. Krebs. Bob Denver had been drafted into the army and the producers had to write his character Maynard out of the show and replace him with the similar Jerome. Denver failed his physical and was able to return having missed only three episodes. The Jerome Krebs character only appeared in two episodes and was quickly dropped.

* YesVirginia: In "Will the Real Santa Claus Please Come Down the Chimney?", while staying at the Gillis household, Maynard reveals he still believes in Santa Claus. The others try to prove to him that Santa isn't real, but he sees through their attempt and remains committed. [[spoiler:While alone in his room, he sees Santa's sleigh fly by.]]

''The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis'' aired from 1959 to 1963 on Creator/{{CBS}}. Dobie Gillis (Dwayne Hickman) was an OrdinaryHighSchoolStudent who wanted simple things in life; money, respect, and the love of beautiful women. His best friend was an oddball beatnik named Maynard G. Krebs (a pre-Series/GilligansIsland Creator/BobDenver) who sported a goatee and was allergic to work. Dobie perennially found himself pursuing beautiful women who were rarely interested in him, while his dogged childhood friend Zelda Gilroy (Sheila James) insisted she was destined to be his ultimate match.

The series was adapted from a collection of short stories written in the early '50s by humorist Max Shulman (which had previously inspired the 1953 MGM musical ''The Affairs of Dobie Gillis'', starring Bobby Van as Dobie and Creator/DebbieReynolds as his love interest). In addition to reunion specials in the '70s and '80s, the series lived on in syndication and later on Creator/{{Nickelodeon}}'s Nick at Nite block. There is more info on the show available [[http://www.tvparty.com/recdobie.html here]]. I

''The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis'' aired from 1959 to 1963 on Creator/{{CBS}}. Dobie Gillis (Dwayne Hickman) was an OrdinaryHighSchoolStudent who wanted simple things in life; money, respect, and the love of beautiful women. His best friend was an oddball beatnik named Maynard G. Krebs (Bob Denver) who sported a goatee and was allergic to work. Dobie perennially found himself pursuing beautiful women who were rarely interested in him, while his dogged childhood friend Zelda Gilroy (Sheila James) insisted she was destined to be his ultimate match.

It broke a lot of new ground for TV, being one of the first shows to have [[BreakingTheFourthWall the characters comment directly to the audience]], as well as one of TV's first "counter-cultural" characters (Maynard). It was also much more slyly scripted than a lot of the more dated shows of the era, and was noted for rapid-fire dialogue exchanges (one of the most dialogue-heavy sitcoms of the era).

The series was adapted from a collection of short stories written in the early '50s by humorist Max Shulman (which had previously inspired the 1953 MGM musical ''The Affairs of Dobie Gillis'', starring Bobby Van as Dobie and Creator/DebbieReynolds as his love interest). There is more info on the show available [[http://www.tvparty.com/recdobie.html here]].

* TVTeen: One of the first shows to feature a teenage character as a protagonist.

* GirlOfTheWeek: Among the actresses that played Dobie's love interests were such then-unknowns as Marlo Thomas, Sally Kellerman, Ellen Burstyn (then billed as Ellen [=McRae=]), Barbara Babcock, Sherry Jackson, Diana Millay, Barbara Bain, and Creator/YvonneCraig.

* MagicRealism

* ManicPixieDreamGirl: Zelda

* TheSixties: The show began in 1959 and had a clear [[TheFifties Fifties]] vibe. But unlike other shows from that era like ''Series/LeaveItToBeaver'', there was at least was some feeling that things might be changing. Dwayne Hickman himself would say the show represented "the end of innocence of the 1950s before the oncoming 1960s revolution".
* TheSlacker: Maynard. One of his {{catch phrase}}s is a panicked "Work!"

** Maynard's "WORK?!" and "You Rang?"[[note]]With Maynard's version (1959-1963) preceding Lurch and Series/TheAddamsFamily (1964-66) by several years.[[/note]]

** Dobie himself qualifies. He often thought just being a nice giy was good enough to land him any girl.

* PlainJane: Thalia Menninger.
* PutOnABus: Thalia and Milton. Thalia returned for two episodes in season 3 and 4.

* TheSixties: The show began in 1959 and had a clear [[TheFifties Fifties]] vibe. But unlike other shows from that era like ''Series/LeaveItToBeaver'', there was at least was some feeling that things might be changing.

* TeenGenius: Zelda Gilroy. She is not shy about reminding Dobie that she is mentally superior to him.

Two of the show's best-remembered cast members only appeared in its first season: Creator/WarrenBeatty (in one of his first roles as Dobie's WorthyOpponent, the handsome, rich Milton Armitage) and Tuesday Weld (as Dobie's primary dream girl, the blonde, money-hungry schemer Thalia Menninger).

The show's characters also served as an inspiration for the cast of another CBS show, the Saturday morning cartoon ''WesternAnimation/ScoobyDooWhereAreYou'' (Think Fred as Dobie (or Chatsworth), Shaggy as Maynard, Velma as Zelda, and Daphne as Thalia.)

* ArmedFarces: The second half of season 2 deals with Dobie and Maynard enlisting in the army. Their boot camp becomes the primary location of the show.

* BettyAndVeronica: Zelda is a plain-Jane Betty to some of Dobie's other love interests, especially Thalia Meninger.

** Maynard G. Krebs. By season 4, the show became mostly about Maynard with Dobie [[OutOfFocus pushed into the background]].

** Zelda Gilroy was such a hit, the character left the show for a brief time, to star in her own SpinOff that was never picked up.
** Chatsworth Osborne Jr. was only added once per month since the producers felt he would outshine Dobie and Maynard if used regularly.
* TheBusCameBack: After being absent since the first season, Thalia returns as a guest in season 3's "Birth of a Salesman" and season 4's "What's a Little Murder Between Friends?"

** At least OnceAnEpisode, Dobie's father would be heard to intone, "I gotta kill that boy. I just gotta." Also Maynard's "WORK!" and "You Rang?"[[note]]With Maynard's version (1959-1963) preceding Lurch and Series/TheAddamsFamily (1964-66) by several years.[[/note]] And all the characters would habitually intone an obligatory (though insincere) "No offense!" right after saying something insulting about someone in their presence.

* CharacterTics: Zelda would often wrinkle her nose up like a rabbit when she was happy or excited. Dobie would involuntarily do the same thing back, which proved to Zelda they were in love.

* CousinOliver: Duncan "Dunky" Gillis. Dobie's cousin Dunky was brought in season 4 to be Maynard's new running buddy and try to recreate the Dobie and Maynard dynamic from earlier seasons. Dobie's star Dwayne Hickman was now 28 and thought too old for such TV hijinks.

* DarkerAndEdgier: The first season. Dobie was more of a scheming lazy bum. Maynard was more of a counterculture figure. Thalia was more of an unrepentant GoldDigger compared to Dobie's later love interests. Dobie's relationship with his father Herbert was much more antagonistic. His father often threatened to kill him (in a comedic manner) which made sponsors uneasy. This was toned down by season 2.

* DropInCharacter
* EmotionallyTongueTied

* GoldDigger: Thalia.

* LoserProtagonist: Dobie Gillis

* ManChild: Maynard

* NeverSayThatAgain / VerbalTic: Mere mention of the word "work" in the presence of employment-averse Maynard always triggered a spasmodic, panicked interjection of "WORK?!"
* NoFourthWall

* TheSixties: The show began in 1959 and had a clear [[TheFifties Fifties]] vibe. But unlike other shows from that era like ''Series/LeaveItToBeaver'', there was at least was some feelings that things might be changing.

** Tuesday Weld left late in the first season. Her popular character Thalia Menninger was replaced with a number of GirlOfTheWeek stand-ins who similarly loved money and thought themselves better than Dobie.
** Early in season 1 there was Jerome Krebs, cousin of Maynard G. Krebs. Bob Denver had been drafted into the army and the producers had to write his character Maynard out of the show and replace him with the similar Jerome. Denver failed his physical and was able to return having missed only three episodes. The Jerome Krebs character only appeared in two episodes and was quickly dropped.
* SyndicationTitle: ''Dobie Gillis''

* WomenAreWiser: Zelda and Thalia(and Dobie's later love interests) were shown as much more intelligent and level-headed than Dobie and Maynard.

* BreakoutCharacter: Maynard G. Krebs. By season 4, the show became mostly about Maynard with Dobie [[OutOfFocus pushed into the background]].

* CatchPhrase: At least OnceAnEpisode, Dobie's father would be heard to intone, "I gotta kill that boy. I just gotta." Also Maynard's "WORK!" and "You Rang?"[[note]]With Maynard's version (1959-1963) preceding Lurch and Series/TheAddamsFamily (1964-66) by several years.[[/note]] And all the characters would habitually intone an obligatory (though insincere) "No offense!" right after saying something insulting about someone in their presence.

* DoggedNiceGuy: A female example in Zelda Gilroy. She believes she and Dobie are meant to be together. Dobie though wants a much prettier girl. A RunningGag through the entire series deals with Dobie's attempts to get rid of Zelda.

* ReunionShow: ''Bring Me the Head of Dobie Gillis'', a TV movie that aired in 1988.

* YesVirginia: "Will the Real Santa Claus Please Come Down the Chimney?" While staying at the Gillis household, Maynard reveals he still believes in Santa Claus. The others try to prove to him that Santa isn't real, but he sees through their attempt and remains committed. [[spoiler:While alone in his room, he sees Santa's sleigh fly by.]]

* BreakoutCharacter: Maynard G. Krebs. By season 4, the show became mostly about Maynard with Dobie pushed into the background.